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Power Cords Snake Oil ??

Having been a long time audiophile living with countless high end compnents I have to wonder about the theory and practicality of high end power cords.

I have yet to hear the difference a power cord makes. Ive owned, synergistic, Shunyata, BMI and cardas. I in no way can detect any sonic signature or change. Give me a pair of interconnects and I imeadiately notice a difference somewhere in the sonic spectrum. Not the PC though. I have accomplished 4 blind tests with my friends. 3 out of the 4 they did not know their cord was replaced. All 4 were using a stock factory supplied cord. Each of the 4 tests were done on different components. Amp, CDP, Preamp & dac.

My electrical backround tells me that provided you supply the component with its required voltage bet 110vac or 220/240vac its happy. Now, change the incoming frequency from 60hz to say 53hz and watch how quickly your soundstage collapses.! This is often the case during the summer months when home air conditioners are in use and the utility company power output is taxed to the max. A really good power conditioner should however take care of the frequency fluctuations. But 110vac is still 110vac regardless of the conductor it passes through as long as its remains 110vac when it reaches the intended circuit. Does your 8k amp or preamp know the difference of the path the voltage took to reach it ? Many an audiophile will use a dedicated 20amp circut for their equipment.That is a good idea as voltage & frequency fluctuations will occur in the home circuit to to other loads on the main breaker panel but again, A power cord simply is the means of transporting the voltage from the wall to the component. IF there is a clean 110vac @ 60hz at the wall socket, no matter what the medium is to go from the socket to the component, it will still be 110vac @60hz.

Could somebody expand on this a bit more. I just dont understand it. ??
128x128jetmek
ostensible_constituency's avatar
ostensible_constituency
76 posts
 
I got through describing why blind tests are unreliable for audio just last week. You should have been here. But I’ll help you out. The reason why negative results for blind tests don’t mean anything for audio is because too many things can go wrong with the test. Pharma doesn’t have nearly the complexity, i.e., number of variables, that audio does. You’re welcome in advance.
LMAO - So then we’ve completely eliminated electrical test and measurement and now double blind testing. I guess all we have to go on are our ears and the marketing folks at Audioquest and Shunyata. Case closed!

Oh, but how could I forget the resident "expert" Geoff....a guy who also conspicuously neglected to answer my question to him, so I’ll ask it again:

Dear Geoff, do you now or have you ever "designed", manufactured or sold audiophile "tweaks" for money?

P.S. they're not "negative" results as anyone with any understanding of statistical methods would have understood. The results of the test demonstrated that even an "audiophile" has less than a 50% chance of correctly identifying the difference between two or more power cables, positive OR negative. Duh!
ostensible_constituency's avatar
ostensible_constituency
76 posts
 
OH look! I've found the answer to my question! 

http://www.realhd-audio.com/?p=2228

So Geoff has a history of making false or un-provable claims AND of claiming to be an audio professional. 

That would get a person banned in most forums due to conflict of interest. 

Plus, he seems a bit cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs: https://www.stereophile.com/content/geoff-kaits-forum
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
Debate rule no. 1 - When you find yourself losing the argument and you’ve run out of ammo attack the other guy with idiotic stuff you found on the internet. 🍑🍔🍔
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cleeds
5,971 posts
 
ostensible_constituency
That’s because I wasn’t talking to you and nobody else asked, but ...
Actually, you were talking to me. It’s how forums work. When you post here, anybody can read what you wrote. If you want to exclude participants, use a P.M. or an email. I’m surprised you don’t understand that.

Have I participated in blind A/B comparison studies? No ...
Amazing! Yet this lack of first-hand experience doesn’t stop you from claiming that you know the outcome of every double-blind power cord listening test that has ever been conducted, or ever will be conducted!
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cleeds
5,971 posts
 
ostensible_constituency
... The only thing that qualifies as "dogma" around here is the notion/statement that "my power cable sounds better than yours because I say so!" which gets repeated over and over and over ...
I’ve been reading these forums for years and I don’t recall anyone ever saying that. Ever. Yet, you claim it "gets repeated over and over and over." Please provide a few examples to substantiate your claim. Given the frequency of repetition that you profess, it should be easy for you to comply. Feel free to use Google, if that helps.

.....not to mention "I don’t believe in science!"
Amazing! Again, I don’t recall anyone ever saying that here. Ever. Yet, you claim it "gets repeated over and over and over." Please provide a few examples to substantiate your claim.
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